Here I am, it is the last day of 2013 and I am still in one
piece. It has been exactly two years and
two months since I left my corporate job.
Many are still watching in
amazement as if they are waiting for me to surrender this crazy feat that I
undertook. Things just do not get done
like that, there are systems in place and a formula that one must follow in
order to be called a human being. As a
lady in her late twenties, with a well-paying corporate job that allows her
freedom to determine her own working hours and gives her travel opportunities
on end, you just don’t up and leave your job to follow this invisible thing
called purpose.
A few years ago I was on a flight and I sat next to a white
gentleman who seemed to be in his fifties.
He was flustered and as red as a cherry (I saw you asking what the point
of me mentioning his race was). I could
see his sweat creeping out of his hair and racing down all the way to his collar. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top
button of his collar as he released a huge sigh. I normally do not like to
engage anyone when I am flying, for moments to myself are quite rare, but I could
not help asking if he was ok. He looked
at me and with a heavy Afrikaans accent responded ‘listen here; always make
sure that you give 100%’. I remember
going into the office having that statement haunt me every time I performed a
task, I always asked myself if I was truly giving a 100%. Sadly I realised I was far from that. It is such moments in life which have led to
me resigning from my job and taking the step to walk on water. I realised that doing things just below
average was too expensive and it was costing me a lot. It was sure costing me my 100%. There is a saying that goes: if you hate
where you are in life, change it.
Everyone who is in control of their lives deserve to live
out their purpose, otherwise it is all a waste of a precious soul if one does
not. Who and what does it benefit for
one to brace the earth and never love their life? I do understand how scary it is to pursue
purpose, sometimes pursuing purpose can be like searching for black ants in a
dark hole, but hey, it feels really awesome when you find those ants. Nothing can be more fulfilling to know that
you wiped some sweat off your brow because you were doing what you actually
love. When you do what you love in life,
you automatically give 100%. This
purpose seeking is not an easy journey for everyone, and many people do not
know where to begin. That is because
people are under the impression that for one to be living their best life, they
need to resign from their job. Well ideally
that is the route to desire but it is not that easy for most people. Especially taking into consideration the
history we have on our continent. Many
people find themselves as breadwinners and so the option of leaving a job is
inviting some serious worry and unnecessary stress in their lives.
There is an ancient proverb that says that a trunk is never
too heavy for the elephant, as well as a scripture that says that God can never
give you a load that you cannot handle, but honestly, some loads we carry even
when they do not have our names on them, the beauty of God is that He makes it
alright with you. Your situation is not
too difficult for you to handle, and so you too can have an opportunity to dip
your finger in the pool of purpose. The
most important thing to discover is that you need to know what your purpose is
and make plans to live your purpose out whether you stay or leave your
job. How does your employment stop you
from getting those piano lessons? How does your job halt you from becoming that
dancer? When did your job become an obstruction to you starting a community
centre? It just doesn’t make sense how we always find one thing to blame so
that we do not take responsibility for robbing ourselves from living out
purpose.
You can gradually build up your dream while you are working
so that when or if you decide to leave, at least the ants are not black but
red. 2014 is around the corner and if there is one thing you should resolve, it
is to start giving 100%. Imagine
yourself at age fifty flying to Johannesburg sitting next to a young twenty
something lady/gentleman. Which space would you be in at that moment? Do you like what you are imagining?
This year February we buried someone very close to my
heart. This person was an extremely
talented individual who I would like to believe lived life as he saw fit. I remember his words when we were at another
friend’s funeral years prior, when he remarked that the friend’s life had
challenged him to live life to the fullest.
On the 24th December I lost another dear friend who also gave
100% of himself. His life was a true
inspiration. I heard somewhere that the
Greeks never wrote obituaries when someone died, they asked a question: ‘Did
he/she have passion?’
I’m two years two month into my #WalkingOnWater experience
and I have travelled all over Afrika. I
have discovered more than I thought I possess.
I have met people I only dreamt of.
I have spoken to so many audiences; I have been interviewed by
magazines, newspapers, and radio and been on international screens. I have been
offered so many business deals. I have been favoured by people who I’m a groupie
of. I have been kissed by a crush and
have had a Ben10 fall in love with me. I
have attended amazing events and even gained 20 kilos. I have had the opportunity to engage with South
Afrika’s president and a member of a serious monarch. I started learning a new language and
discovered a gift I never knew I had. My biggest highlight was blowing the
socks off some Academics when I was invited to present to them. The look on their faces while I was digging
into my soul will forever set precedence for my Academic journey.
Two years and two months later, God is still keeping me
afloat as I #WalkOnWater. Please let
2014 be the beginning of something mind blowing in your life; do not continue
accumulating debt because you are robbing yourself off life. Life should be filled with Love, faith, truth
and a whole lot of FUN!!!
See you in 2014
@malebosays
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